eliesa@photogen-inc.com

Taking time for myself is a very precious thing that I haven't done enough of lately. My days are filled with taking care of my clients, mentoring my crew + the community, editing, sending images off to art directors, planning, shooting, grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking, dog-walking, loving, WHEW! Some days I feel like I wear multiple hats, all of which I absolutely love. About a month ago, I really felt like I just needed some time. Time to myself, to totally disconnect from my everyday environment and away from the daily grind. I also felt like I needed to step away from my digital camera for a bit.
My work is my passion and I know that I am SO lucky to do what I do. However, at the end of the day, taking photographs is still my job and even though I LOVE what I do, there are moments when I really just don't want to pick up my camera. I feel like it is my responsibility to bring myself back to why I am a photographer and why I am an artist.

My way of 'finding' myself again through this wee bit of a rut is to be in a new space and shoot film. Many of you know that I adore film and to be honest, it is the one element of photography that brings me back to why I take photographs in the first place. I love the process of film, but especially, the unknowns.

In this digital world we live in, everything is so fast, predictable and controllable. You know from the instant you take an image what it will look like. To be quite frank...I've become bored with it, which is why I have needed this time.

I chose to come to Seattle, for two reasons. 1) I love the Pacific Northwest. 2) I have some lovely friends up here who continue to keep me grounded and uplifted as an artist. You might have heard of these two ladies Sara Montour and Sarah Rhoads. I spent some brief time with both of these girls and it was absolutely renewing for me. I laughed harder than I have in a long time and have had some of the best conversations about love, life, and the pursuit of being the artist I know I can be. I am so lucky to have friends like this in my life who I know I can always count on to be real with me.